Thermoforming Packaging Machine for Ready Meals: A Complete Case Study

Industry: Food
Country: United Arab Emirates

Client: A leading food manufacturing enterprise, serving as a central kitchen supplying prepared dishes to restaurant outlets.
Material: Pre-cooked dishes, focusing on instant hot dishes, ready-to-cook, and side dishes
Bag Material: Pre-formed bags with manual labeling

Communication: The primary requirement from our client is the provision of two machines, one for packaging raw food and the other for cooked food, both equipped with automatic labeling or coding functions. They also insist on on-site trial runs to ensure the machines meet the desired performance criteria before proceeding. Due to the need for customized molds, it is not feasible to conduct tests using the most suitable molds. However, we have sample machines that allow us to adjust material proportions for simulation testing, or we can customize molds for testing purposes.

Understanding Client Needs: The client's aim is to confirm the suitability of the equipment through trial testing, understanding that custom molds are necessary for compatibility, albeit at an additional cost and time investment. Therefore, they agree to simulation testing with adjusted proportions, which proved satisfactory in our sample machine tests. However, as the products vary in volume, testing is necessary to confirm the size of large packaging molds. Simulation testing cannot directly assess heavy-weight packaging, so we suggest using large packaging bags for such tests. The client has also provided specific data after testing with existing molds, allowing us to create large-weight molds based on this data, addressing their concerns. Ultimately, considering our after-sales support, previous collaboration, price, and cooperation, they agreed and asked us to provide a revised preliminary plan quotation.

Hualian Solution: Fully automated thermoforming vacuum packaging solution

The global prepared food market is booming due to rising demand for convenient, nutritious meals. Precooked options cater to busy individuals, families, and chefs seeking quality and taste without sacrificing convenience. This trend is fueled by changing lifestyles and a preference for healthier choices, particularly in North America and Europe. Expect continued growth driven by the strong demand for convenience and healthier eating. Therefore, it also poses new requirements and challenges to our packaging machinery industry.

Our client's requirements are to enhance packaging efficiency as the core goal, with a secondary focus on reducing packaging labor and intensity.

Additional Details:

1. Need three sets of molds compatible with all products.

2. Films must withstand high and low temperatures.

3. Transparent film requires labeling.

Before Workflow: Teams of three, with one person weighing, one bagging, one sealing, and an additional person for labeling. Achieving an efficiency of around 300 bags per hour, handling 1 to 1.5 tons of material daily.

Improved Workflow: Teams of two, with one weighing and the other loading. Sealing and labeling tasks are handled by the equipment. Achieving an efficiency of 700-1900 bags per hour, processing 4-5 tons of material daily.

By offering a tailored solution and addressing all client requirements, Hualian successfully enhanced packaging efficiency, leading to a seamless collaboration and a satisfied client.